West Indies earned a consolation win on Pink Day in Johannesburg in a rain reduced game winning by 6 runs under the DLS method. West Indies looked determined in a game that was affected by lightning as they put in an all-round performance to upstage South Africa on Pink Day in Johannesburg. Put into bat first in a match that started late as a 16-over game and then reduced to 10 later on, West Indies posted 114/3 in 10 overs on the back of 48 apiece from captain Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer.
While defending the score, Gudakesh Motie was the star for West Indies as he picked up 3/17 in 2 overs to derail South Africa’s chase where many batters got starts but could not convert and go beyond 30 runs for South Africa as an individual score. They came close and scored more runs than West Indies but lost out by 6 runs under the DLS method. The series ends 2-1 in South Africa’s favour.
Shimron Hetmyer & Shai Hope’s blazing knocks powers West Indies to 114/3 in 10 overs
Put into bat first, captain Shai Hope opened the batting with Johnson Charles while Lungi Ngidi had the ball in hand for South Africa. Charles did not last long as he fell for a bronze duck as the opening duo added 5 runs for the first wicket with Lungi Ngidi picking up the first wicket. Shimron Hetmyer came out to bat and joined Hope in the middle.
The duo started building a partnership and were quickly off the blocks as South Africa just lacked the bit of bite in their bowling. Hope and Hetmyer complimented each other well and took the momentum away from the Proteas as the duo added 50+ runs for the second wicket. West Indies reached 66/1 in 6 overs when players again went off the field due to lighting and rain and after a while they came back with the game reduced to 10 overs a side contest.
Hope and Hetmyer continued from where they left off before the break and put on an unbelievable stand of 86 runs off 41 balls in which both equally contributed to the total. They took the score to 91 in the 8th over before Hope fell for a well made 48 off 25 balls with 3 fours and 4 sixes to his name to Keshav Maharaj. Rovman Powell came out to bat next and started on the front foot as he struck lusty blows for the maximum.
The duo added 13 runs for the 3rd wicket before Powell went for 13 off 7 balls with 2 sixes to his name to Kwena Maphaka as West Indies crossed 100 and they were 104/3 in 9 overs. Romario Shepherd came out to bat next as one over was left in the innings. Hetmyer hit a few lusty blows as 10 runs came off the final over as West Indies ended with 114/3 in 10 overs with Hetmyer unbeaten on 48 off 22 balls with one four and six sixes to his name while Shepherd was unbeaten on 3 off 3 balls. 2 extras given by the fielding side.
Lungi Ngidi picked up 1/19 in 2 overs. Keshav Maharaj finished with 1/38 in 2 overs. Kwena Maphaka finished with 1/12 in 1 over. George Linde finished with 0/9 in 2 overs. Aiden Markram the captain’s only over went for 18 runs. Corbin Bosch went for 16 runs in 2 overs. It meant that South Africa under revised playing conditions and DLS method needed 125 to win off 10 overs.
Gudakesh Motie’s 3/17 helps West Indies hold off South Africa in a thriller
Chasing a revised target of 125 runs to win off 10 overs, captain Aiden Markram opened the batting with keeper batter Quinton de Kock while Jason Holder had ball in hand for West Indies. The Proteas got off to a fast start courtesy mainly Quinton de Kock as Markram was a mere spectator at the other end. The duo added 23 runs inside the first two overs before the captain Markram fell to Akeal Hosein for 2 off 4 balls. Dewald Brevis came out to bat at 3.
Brevis was on the move as well as he and de Kock could added another 11 runs to the score before Quinton fell for 28 off 14 balls with 4 fours and one six to his name to Gudakesh Motie. Ryan Rickelton came out to bat next. Brevis and Rickelton were on the move as they attempted to score the runs quickly. Rickelton looked settled in the middle. The duo added 28 runs for the 3rd wicket before Rickelton fell for 15 off 7 balls with 2 sixes to his name to Motie yet again. George Linde came out to bat in the 6th over itself.
Motie had another wicket to his name as he had two in the over with Brevis departing for 17 off 10 balls with 2 sixes to his name as South Africa slipped to 63/4 in 6 overs. Jason Smith came out to bat next with 4 overs left in the contest. Linde and Smith started to counter-attack and build a partnership as Smith was quick off the blocks while Linde was not left far behind as both came to the crease almost at the same time.
The duo put on 37 runs in no time off 15 balls and took the score to 100 for the Proteas as it came up in the 9th over. At the score of 100, Linde was dismissed for 17 off 9 balls with one four and one six to his name to Jason Holder. The Proteas were now 100/5 in 8.2 overs requiring 25 runs off the last 10 balls. Tristan Stubbs came out to join Smith in the middle. The duo added another 16 runs in 8 balls with Smith and Stubbs playing their part before Smith was dismissed with 2 balls to go in the match for 26 off 10 balls with 4 fours and one six to his name to Shamar Joseph.
Corbin Bosch came to join Stubbs in the middle with 9 needed off 2 balls. Joseph held his nerve as Bosch scored 2 off 2 balls as South Africa finished with 118/6 in 10 overs with Stubbs unbeaten on 10 off 5 balls with a maximum to his name while Bosch was unbeaten on 2 off 2 balls. Just one extra given by the fielding side.
Gudakesh Motie was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies with figures of 3/17 in 2 overs. Jason Holder finished with 1/30 in 2 overs. Akeal Hosein finished with 1/25 in 2 overs. Shamar Joseph finished with 1/23 in 2 overs. Roston Chase bowled 2 overs for 23 runs and 0 wickets. So, West Indies win by 6 runs under the DLS method. The series ends 2-1 in South Africa’s favour. Gudakesh Motie was awarded the Player of the Match while Quinton de Kock was awarded the Player of the Series.
So, with this the 3-match T20I series ends with South Africa winning 2-1 as West Indies gets a consolation win. Both teams will now head to India for group stage of T20 World Cup 2026 and it’s going to be a fascinating battle featuring all 20 teams.
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